City

Alleging Cronyism and Corruption, Developers File $50M Lawsuit Against Springfield Over RMV Project

Investors in an ill-fated development for a new Registry of Motor Vehicles building have filed a $50 million lawsuit in federal court, alleging the city plunged the project into an abyss of evasive and corrupt tactics to stall it into failure. Martone Place LLC and HDC Four LLC filed the complaint against the city, Deputy Director of Planning Philip Dromey, Director of Public …


San Francisco Sues Millennium Tower Developers, Claiming Buyers Were Duped

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera Thursday filed suit against the developer of the Millennium Tower, alleging that the company knew that the luxury high-rise was sinking more than expected before it began selling units but failed to disclose the information to buyers. Herrera said the developer Mission Street Development LLC, an affiliate of Millennium …


Airbnb in Talks to Settle New York Lawsuit

Airbnb Inc. is in talks with New York City and New York state to settle a lawsuit over a new state law designed to curtail short-term apartment rentals. The potential settlement, according to one person familiar with the discussions, would protect Airbnb against fines from the city for short-term apartment rentals that violate the new law, though it might still leave hosts liable for those …


Class-Action Suit Accuses Florissant of Operating Debtors Prison

Police, jailers and court officials in the city of Florissant routinely hold people in jail for an inability to pay fines, often arbitrarily and indefinitely in a jail with deplorable conditions, according to a class-action lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit was filed by the nonprofit law group ArchCity Defenders on behalf of five St. Louis-area residents. ArchCity Defenders has filed lawsuits …


Residents Plan Lawsuits Against East Chicago, State Officials

A new series of pending lawsuits allege that local, state and federal officials knew about the levels of contamination at the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, yet did nothing to prevent residents from being exposed to the toxins. More than 250 individual tort claim notices, legal filings required before submitting a lawsuit to a court, were filed with the City of East Chicago, the …


Judge Rejects Settlement Over Surveillance of Muslims by New York Police Department

A rally protested New York Police Department surveillance tactics in 2013. Credit Seth Wenig/Associated Press A federal judge has rejected the settlement of a lawsuit stemming from the New York Police Department ’s surveillance of Muslims, saying the proposed deal does not provide enough oversight of an agency that he said had shown a “systemic inclination” to ignore rules protecting free …


Family of Slain 6-Year-Old Files Lawsuit Against Town of Marksville

A family has filed a federal lawsuit against the town where two deputy marshals will stand trial for second-degree murder. Documents show that the lawsuit was filed Thursday, Oct. 27 on behalf of the family of Jeremy Mardis, the 6-year-old boy with autism who died after he was shot six times during an alleged traffic stop. The child’s father, Christopher Few, was also critically injured during …


California City to Pay $100K to Settle Pot Shop Raid Lawsuit

A California city will pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging police harassment during a raid on a marijuana dispensary. The city of Santa Ana will also drop misdemeanor charges against a dozen people accused of unlawfully operating Sky High Holistic, the Orange County Register reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/2eLDNmS ). Attorney Matthew Pappas said the money will go to two Sky High …


Birmingham Council, Mayor in Dispute Over Water Works Lawsuit

Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin (City of Birmingham) Erin Edgemon | [email protected] The Birmingham City Council plans to hire a law firm to represent the body in a lawsuit seeking to void two state laws that beginning next year that would dilute the city’s control of the Water Works Board. President Johnathan Austin said the council is against the expansion of the Water Works …


Two Deadlines Looming to File Claims for Jennings Settlements

Friday, October 28 is the deadline to apply for funds in a settlement over the illegal collection of warrant fees. Between 2009-2014, the City of Jennings illegally charged people fees for issuing warrants that totaled $531,500. If you think you are one of approximately 6,800 people who are eligible members of this class action settlement, then visit https://goo.gl/rGc5jP to fill out a claim …